Technical Business Development Manager

Wilmar Oleochemicals, Biofuels & Specialties in Rotterdam is an international processor and trader in the plant-based oleochemicals industry. The company places importance on sustainable growth and corporate social responsibility within its operations and the wider industry.

Technical Business Development Manager – Beauty & Personal Care

The Technical Business Development Manager – Beauty & Personal Care is responsible for shaping and delivering the technical business development strategy for Wilmar BEAUTY in Europe. The role combines formulation expertise, market insight and customer technical support to help align product development with customer needs and commercial priorities. It works closely with the Commercial Business Development Manager – Beauty & Personal Care Europe, the Global Beauty & Personal Care Segment Leader, and Wilmar and joint venture R&D teams.

This role is based in Grassobbio (near Milan), Italy, the head office of the ErcaWilmar Beauty & Personal Care joint venture and will report to the Commercial Business Development Manager – Beauty & Personal Care Europe.

Main responsibilities

• Support the technical positioning of the Wilmar BEAUTY product portfolio in the European market through regular engagement with customers’ technical teams, translating new and updated product offerings into clear customer-facing propositions
• Work closely with the Commercial Business Development Manager – Beauty & Personal Care Europe to translate technical product and innovation needs into customer-facing propositions
• Coordinate with Wilmar’s global R&D and Marketing teams to update and develop action plans for new and improved Wilmar BEAUTY product offerings and innovations
• Build and maintain working relationships with customers’ R&D teams, presenting Wilmar BEAUTY offerings through formulation concepts and prototypes that demonstrate sensorial, performance and sustainability characteristics
• Develop and maintain regular in-person technical meetings with key customers, including technical workshops with Wilmar R&D and Commercial teams
• Lead innovation projects with selected customers in collaboration with the commercial team
• Represent Wilmar BEAUTY at relevant industry events and trade shows, including technical seminars and paper presentations
• Provide regular internal training sessions and workshops for Sales teams to strengthen their understanding of technical products and formulation applications
• Prepare technical documentation and promotional newsletters for internal and external use
• Attend Beauty & Personal Care technical seminars, conferences and events to monitor developments and industry trends
• Work with Wilmar’s Regulatory team and joint venture teams to support customer approval processes and certifications, such as Cosmos and Natrue
• Gather input from key customers’ marketing and technical teams and share it with Wilmar R&D to support future formulations, product development and innovation planning
• Organise and coordinate innovation days with priority customers and distributors

Qualifications

• Degree in chemistry, pharmacy or chemical engineering
• 3–5 years’ minimum experience in formulation-related areas gained in the FMCG industry; preferably in Personal Care
• 1-2 years or more of background in providing technical services to customers, preferably in the European region.
• Speaking/reading/writing fluent English and an additional European language is desired
• Good skills in MS Office & SAP
• Very strong formulation knowledge in multiple areas of specialties within the Personal Care segment (e.g. multiple active ingredients, formulation types)
• Strong familiarity with emollients, emulsifiers, consistency agents, oils and fatty acids, soap noodles, humectants, anionic, cationic and amphoteric surfactants, including a broad range of mild surfactants, silicone alternatives, boosters of SPF, active and performance blends
• Very strong interpersonal skills needed to identify and manage the technical interface with customers, to detect opportunities and translate those into the delivery of technical solutions to customer’s needs, and nurture strong technical customer intimacy

Benefits

• 28 holidays per year
• A bonus scheme up to 20% of the fixed annual salary when at target
• A lease car
• Participation in a pension scheme
• Various other insurances
• Partial work from home options